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Sep
13
“Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems.” Scott Adams
Nobody would have even the faintest doubt that the FIAT engineers created a lot of problems when they came up with the FIAT 130 and 130 Coupé, because these vehicles shared virtually no parts with other FIAT models from that period. Even the Aurelio Lampredi designed V6 engine is not identical with the machine used in the Dino. But nonetheless – the 130 Coupé is a beautiful automobile – and definitely more elegant than the somewhat baroque sedan model. The guys at the Pininfarina design studios must have had the same thought and created a four-door model based on the design of the coupé. Quite a stunning vehicle with almost perfect proportions – but as I never liked the tall and narrow wheels of the Seventies I updated the looks with more modern wheels and tires. Larger diameter, lower profile and a substantial drop in ride height all of a sudden make the vehicle look more contemporary timeless.
See the original image here for comparison.
Jun
29
The proportions of some American cars from the 1970’s are a bit cartoonish. The Chrysler Newport Sedan is a great example. Just for fun and to emphasize the oddness, I added a couple of axles and extended the hood and trunk accordingly. The passenger area remained stock standard. Note: this is likely to be the first vehicle here at VirtualModels that still has the stock ride height 😉
Dec
01
A true classic with a classic custom car touch. Not much done here, because it doesn’t need much to make that particular car look stunning. The body has been lowered, cleaned and received a pinstriping, which spans the whole flank. And yes – the Mercury Park Lane Sedan is a rather large vehicle.
Nov
09
Ever since seeing a Tucker Torpedo in the Murdo (South Dakota) Pioneer Auto Museum in 2001, I’ve been fascinated with the vehicle. Many years later, somebody gave me a DVD with the video about the brilliant man named Preston Tucker. He thought about many features, like rollover protection and directional lights, decades before anybody else – and realized them. Most of them far too advanced for the time, though. Mind you, we’re talking about 1948!
The sleek design inspired me to create a modernized version of the Tucker Torpedo, while retaining the key elements of the design. Yes, HotWheels models did play an influential role here…
Sep
15
Cord 812 Beverly Sedan. A beautiful car… but wait a second! Didn’t that originally have four doors and a shorter nose? Yeah, you’re right about that. Quite a lot has been changed here. Take your time and compare it with the original. Find 10 things I changed and win… a smile. 🙂